At the
Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg's model and mold archive, 30,000 original shapes are stored. Shapes going back hundreds of years, some no longer reproduced regularly, but can be made again by special request. The Nymphenburg craftspeople pull only 15 shapes from a mold before it is discarded. That is incredible to me. I pull over a hundred shapes off my molds, but I don't mind the variation in form that happens as a result of wear on the mold. I welcome the differences.
It's inspiring to see so many molds all in one place, they are so sculptural. I appreciate how much work went into each mold, it takes hours to create a precise one. I have to go for a visit.
